Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension Chapter 1482 - 801: Two Great Avatars (Part 2)

Previously on Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension...

In the sulfurous volcanic valleys southeast of the continent, a jade-faced youth of the Zhao Clan relaxed in steaming hot springs, dismissing a kinsman's doubts about relocating to the harsh Five Thunders Cave Heaven, affirming the long-term value for his direct line despite the sparse spiritual energy. Deep within the Grotto Heaven's Cloud Sea, Zhao Sheng, having advanced to the Unification Realm, cultivated on a Thunder Crystal Magic Platform until his Three-headed and Six-armed Giant Spirit Dharma Aspect split into two powerful avatars: the lively Zhao Ximing with Sun and Moon Divine Ape bloodline, and the solemn Zhao Xi Hou with Ancient Thunder Roar Lion lineage. Bound eternally to their main body, the avatars received their missions; Ximing departed as divine light toward the Ascension Tower, while Xi Hou descended to reshape the land, initiating the slow formation of spirit veins across the continent.

From his vantage on the clouds, Zhao Sheng gazed down at the world below, witnessing the Thunder Roar Lion incarnation carefully arranging the Earth Veins and Spirit Veins. A faint nod of approval crossed his face.

Moments later, he pointed a finger, slicing softly into the emptiness ahead, which promptly split open into a dark rift stretching over a meter.

Entering the rift, Zhao Sheng found himself in an instant beyond the Grotto Heaven. Everywhere he looked, the void stretched out in profound darkness and utter stillness.

With a mere thought, his Divine Thought surged outward in every direction, enveloping a vast expanse of tens of thousands of miles within moments.

Just then, a smile tugged at Zhao Sheng's lips; his form blurred, and he instantly shifted to a spot 27,000 miles distant, descending onto a colossal skeleton fragment the size of a mountain.

In the following instant, the Grotto Heaven's light wheel emerged and ballooned outward by countless folds, becoming a massive "entrance" spanning tens of thousands of meters across, its borders shimmering in vibrant five hues.

Right then, the entrance unleashed boundless pulling force, gradually drawing in the enormous beast's remains, drawing them piece by piece into the Grotto Heaven.

Bang!

The massive beast's skeleton plummeted from above, slamming into the ground with tremendous force and carving out a crater thousands of meters deep.

A burst of radiance appeared, and Zhao Xi Hou, bearing the broad-nosed lion visage, materialized high over the crater, shoving his palms downward.

At once, the nearby soil and stones tumbled into the depression, swiftly packing it full.

Next, the terrain rippled and smoothed over perfectly, erasing every sign of what had occurred before.

All the while, far underground, unseen energies broke down the giant beast's skeleton at high speed, while strands of Tao Spirit Mechanism pulled from the dispersed bones merged rapidly into the Grotto Heaven.

At the same time, those bones reshaped into premium jade materials of the highest quality, delving into the Spirit Vein and destined to yield vast quantities of Top-grade Spirit Stones after a millennium.

...

Zhao Sheng pushed his Divine Thought to its limits, sweeping tirelessly across the entire Divine Palace Heaven.

Holding the All Sky Star Map, he avoided activating the Star Battle Formation entirely and instead pinpointed relic after relic from bygone eras with ease.

Regrettably, the majority of these sites had already been explored by countless Great Ability experts, stripped bare of any valuable items.

That said, such relics weren't completely without purpose; isolated island remnants could expand the Grotto Heaven's terrain, and void lakes served well for broadening its oceans.

For seven or eight years, Zhao Sheng labored diligently, integrating more than a dozen relics into the Grotto Heaven and at last expanding the Five Thunders Cave Heaven to a pleasing extent.

Now, the landmass inside the Grotto Heaven spanned seven or eight thousand miles, while the oceanic regions surpassed sixteen thousand miles. Altogether, the Grotto Heaven's domain neared twenty-four thousand miles.

Unlike other Fellow Daoists fresh to the Unification Realm, Zhao Sheng's groundwork proved far more solid. His nurtured Five Thunders Cave Heaven dwarfed theirs by at least double in size. Typically, newcomers barely managed a Grotto Heaven exceeding ten thousand miles at the start.

...

Years rushed by swiftly, and forty passed like a fleeting dream.

On a particular day in one corner of Divine Palace Heaven, a silhouette materialized from nowhere.

Zhao Sheng retrieved the All Sky Star Map, his gaze darting over the sparkling "light points" of stars, ultimately lingering on a brilliant azure one.

His Divine Thought delved within, causing the blue glow to swell enormously and unveil a limitless lake shining in brilliant blue. This lake drifted through the endless void's depths, dotted with ancient pavilions and structures along its shores.

Immortal Qi Lake!

This title was familiar only among those at the Unification Realm, and it marked the exact destination Zhao Sheng had in mind.

The Immortal Qi Lake boasted a singular setting; it served as a communal hub for Unification Realm Great Power cultivators to share insights and, naturally, conduct trades.

Stowing the All Sky Star Map once more, Zhao Sheng invoked Space-Time Teleportation again, vanishing from sight.

Following two successive jumps through space, Zhao Sheng hovered high over an endless expanse of water.

He had arrived at the Immortal Qi Lake!

In that instant, a fissure tore through the void, and an elder clad in crane robes with flowing white hair emerged.

This figure possessed an odd look, featuring a vertical eye amid his forehead, its pupil a vivid emerald reminiscent of exquisite jade.

The crane-robed elder cast a glance toward Zhao Sheng, taking in the broad-nosed lion features, the golden mane waving freely, and the intense feral presence radiating from him.

In ages past, upon reaching Unification, most cultivators secluded themselves within their Grotto Heavens, with any who ventured abroad being mere incarnations.

Zhao Sheng followed this pattern, presently employing the incarnation of the Ancient Thunder Roar Lion.

The crane-robed elder burst into a hearty laugh. "Haha, this Taoist seems new to me. Is Immortal Qi Lake your first stop here?"

Zhao Sheng inclined his head, producing the Guest Minister Jade Token from Taiyi Spirit Palace with ease, and replied with a smile, "That's correct. I've heard much about Immortal Qi Lake's fame, but this marks my initial arrival."

The elder's gaze swept over the Guest Minister Jade Token, and his grin widened at once. "Ah, so Taoist serves as a Guest Minister Elder in Taiyi Spirit Palace—my mistake! I am Geng Chen; might I have your name?"

Zhao Sheng clasped his hands in greeting. "I wander from Wolong Mountain. Feel free to address me as Tianqiong Wanderer."

The crane-robed elder chuckled. "Then it's Tianqiong Taoist. The Hundred Immortals Conference nears its start. Follow me without delay."

With those words, he ripped open a fresh tear, revealing a grand and opulent chamber within.

The crane-robed elder entered first, and Zhao Sheng's eyes gleamed as he trailed right behind.

Inside, Zhao Sheng surveyed the space; the floors, walls, and ceiling alike were crafted from Top-grade Spirit Stones, their surfaces alive with shifting luminescence and inscribed with elaborate Tao True Texts.

All about the hall stood Magic Platforms beaming with dazzling radiance, appearing close to one another.

In truth, the intervals between these Magic Platforms had been folded innumerable times through the mighty Divine Power of some Great Ability.

Were they all stretched out, the separations would span thousands and thousands of miles.

"Tianqiong Taoist, take any seat that suits you. I must take my leave for the moment," the crane-robed elder said courteously, departing swiftly.

Zhao Sheng paid it no heed, casting his eyes about once more before choosing a vacant Magic Platform and settling onto it with poise.

By this point, fellow Unification Realm Great Powers had spotted him as an outsider among them, directing assorted looks in his direction.

Certain amiable Great Powers promptly dispatched a Divine Thought to inquire about his background.

In the outside world, one’s identity is self-bestowed!

True identities naturally can’t be revealed, but false identities need not be concealed.

Zhao Sheng swiftly exchanged thoughts with the other Unification Fellow Daoists, stating his origin in Taisu Spiritual Realm and his role as a Guest Minister Elder in Taiyi Spirit Realm.

Backed by the Guest Minister Jade Token, the other Great Powers saw no cause to question his story.

...

"Tianqiong Taoist, do you truly possess the fabled Weak Water? I'd like to trade for it. State your terms!" A gentle-eyed old monk messaged suddenly.

Zhao Sheng raised his gaze, giving a small nod. "What offerings does Master Gu Xiang bring in exchange?"

As he finished, he snapped his fingers, sending a droplet of water arcing forward across dozens of meters to rest in the old monk's grasp.

The old monk Gu Xiang caught the droplet, his eyes blazing with inner light as he replied at once, "I offer Ten Directions Cave Heaven Jade, a handful of Principle Crystals. Plus, a collection of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. Name what Tianqiong Taoist seeks—I require Weak Water, and as much of it as you can spare."

Zhao Sheng's gaze sharpened with interest, and he responded firmly, "Pocket World Jade and Principle Crystals alone interest me—the greater the quantity, the better. Equal volume of Pocket World Jade per share of Weak Water. Plus a hundred Principle Crystals!"

For Unification Realm Great Powers, Pocket World Jade and Principle Crystals served as reliable currency. Their demand for such Treasures knew no bounds.

The old monk Gu Xiang accepted the deal readily, with no haggling.